If concrete isn’t quite what you were imagining, perhaps you would be slightly more pleased to see counters lined with granite. Even if real granite is not in the budget, the look may be. New at the 2009 Kitchen and Bath show was a paint and accompanying set that allows a consumer to create the look of granite on any surface- even laminate.
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Fun and Fancy Faucets provide the ideal opportunity to show off your unique personality. Faucets are now available in a wide array of styles and finishes. But, more than that, one might be intrigued to find that their sinks can turn on with just the touch, can change the color of the water that runs from them, and even mount on the ceiling. From the smooth and rounded to the sharp and highly stylish, to the very deceiving, your kitchen faucet can be as unique as you are.
Kitchen Remodeling
Outdoor Living

Delight in the Details Okay, so buying the stainless appliances, picking out the brand new cupboards and corresponding countertop is what most think when considering kitchen renovation, but what about the small details that make a large impact? There are drawer and cupboard pulls available in almost any color, look and feel today- from those that resemble a pebble to metal molded to resemble bamboo the choices are almost endless and it can be a fun adventure finding the perfect ones to fit your new space.
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Even once that decision has been made, there are other details that can be considered. For instance, for home owners that have central vacuum, there is a new Drawer Vac that was shown at the 2009 Kitchen and Bath show and will make it much easier to keep those new counters neat and tidy. Similarly, for the interior of the cupboards, there are a number of manufacturers that sell organizational drawers that provide easy access to pots, pans, boxes and cans, while keeping those cupboards shipshape.
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Pretty and Practical Appliances They are often the focal points of kitchen redesign and the innovators in the appliance industry have not let us down. With French doors over a bottom freezer to save space, digital temperature read outs, filtered ice and water, additional ice making capabilities, LCD touch screens for photo display and instant access to nutritional facts, and of course, the infamous television in the door, refrigerators are just one of the examples of kitchen innovation gone wild.

Ranges have seen their fair share of attention as well. You can now have one range with dual ovens- one gas, the other electric. Stove tops can have four, five or six burners- or you might opt to include a grill top in the center. These, too, are available with touch screen control and digital readout.

Thanks to the innovative minds in home design and application, a few difficult decisions later and your new kitchen will be like something out of your dreams.
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Most minor injuries should leave the patient relatively pain free after the injury has healed. However there are certain lingering injuries that can require that you go to a pain management clinic. The pain doctor should be able to diagnose and help alleviate chronic injuries like neck pain, back pain or even headaches.

Light injures

Many sports injuries simply require rest and relaxation as treatment. If you are suffering from tennis elbow or turf toe, you likely won’t need to head to the doctor, simply rest the body part that hurts and take a Tylenol if you need to. If you are showing symptoms for more than 10 days, however, you may have more of an underlying issue. You may also want to consult a doctor if you have had issues in your elbow, knee or back before and you are worried that you may have reinjured something.

Serious injuries

Probably the two most serious areas you can injure playing sports is your knee and your back. Injuries to these areas can be quite significant and require months or even years of rehab. You’ll likely be given the option of undergoing traditional treatment for these injuries, which consists of medication, physical therapy and exercise, as well as non-traditional treatments, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care and other treatments. The only issue you may encounter is that some insurance companies may not cover things like chiropractic care so you may have to foot the bill on your own. Despite this fact, you may find more relief from these treatments than from anything else.

Staying active

Perhaps the worst thing you can do if you are injured is give up being active. Of course, if you’ve broken an ankle or torn a knee up, you won’t be running in any marathons anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay active. Your doctor will give you a list of exercises that you can still do on a regular basis to keep up your muscle mass. In some cases, people swear that they are stronger after an injury than they were before it.

Final tips

Stretching in the single most important thing you can do to help ward off sports injuries, but it isn’t the only thing. Eating a healthy diet packed full of vitamins and minerals ensures that your body has the building blocks it needs to create muscle. Exercising with a friend or a partner can help, too, since studies have shown that you stay more focused when you have someone pushing you along the way. You can also get a gym membership so you are using the safest and latest equipment to exercise with. Remember, nothing is more important than your health and safety when you exercise.

The Austin Rockin’ Christmas Party has become a yearly tradition in this city, and for good reason. This year’s party is being held at Zach’s Kleberg Stage, 1421 W. Riverside. Tickets are $42 and shows run through till Christmas day. This is the ultimate way to bring in the holiday season. This soul, rock and jazz show is sure to get you up out of your seat. No other show in Austin can touch the Rockin’ Christmas Party, so don’t miss it.

The holiday spirit will be alive and well long after St. Nick has started his vacation thanks to The Santaland Diaries. This hilarious play tells the story of an elf who doesn’t quite believe in the magic of the holiday season. The show is at Zachary Scott Theatre through January 10. Tickets are $39. Enjoy this subversive and fun look at the holiday season. Nothing beats a night at the theatre and this might just be the best show in town.

The first Tuesday of every month is another chance to enjoy The Dionysium. This event takes place at 7 and combines live theatre, conferences and more. This is a night for the intellectual in you, so be prepared to learn, to think and to have a wonderful time. Every month features new topics and new debates sure to make you think. Have a truly adult night out with friends and family during the first Tuesday of every month at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – 1120 South Lamar in Austin.

Come see the legendary Color Purple at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. This touring production will be in town from January 12-17. There is one show per day except for Saturday and Sunday where there are two shows. Come see one of the most powerful stories ever told.

The greater Austin area plays host to some amazing productions over the next few months, so don’t miss out.

Austin has always been a city ruled and defined by politics. Even in non-election years, politics plays a central role in what makes the capital city of Texas special. Currently, we are on the verge of a mid-term election year and the battle for governor is already heating up. At the center we have a secessionist governor in Rick Perry who will be fighting off challenges from all sides, including ones in his own party. While it is unlikely that he’ll face a primary, Perry has wildly oscillating approval ratings so it is impossible to tell if he is headed for re-election or defeat, but one thing is certain, Texas politics, and especially Austin politics, are never boring.

The city of Austin will also be choosing a mayor come November. Lee Leffingwell is the current mayor and he is sure to face stiff competition from a Republican. Austin is one of the few cities in Texas that is more left-leaning than right leaning. It has always given Austin a different feel from any other spot in the state. The current mayor is fairly popular so signs are pointing to a successful reelection but a lot can happen between now and election day.

Probably the big question around Austin right now is what kind of dent the Republicans can make in Washington D.C. come mid-term election time. There is also a lot of talk in Austin about the emergence of a Tea Party that could split the Republican brand like never before. If that happens, you may see the Democrats pick up seats in DC instead of losing seats, which is the common pattern during mid-term elections. No matter what happens, you can rest assured that things won’t be boring in Texas or in Austin in the build up to this year’s election.

If you need to get your political fix between now and then, there are frequently guest speakers that give speeches and talks at the university for free or for a small fee. These events are almost always open to the public and occur on an almost weekly basis. These speeches are just one of the many reasons why it pays to live in a great college town like Austin.